A Wee Dram or Three

New Computer

I haven't posted for a few days because I have been busy building a new computer from scratch.

Without being too technical, I have a Thermaltake case, Nvidia mobo, 1 x 1terrabyte Sata hdd, 1 x 80Gig hdd, 1 x DVD-RW with Lightscribe, AMD Phenom triple core processor, 3 GB ram and Windows Vista Ultimate.

Now I have the associated, time consuming downloading of programs.

The onboard graphics, being Nvidia 8 series, give a windows experience index of 4, which means I don't have to add an expensive graphics card.

I have downloaded Firefox 3 and Open Office so I don't have to rely too much on Micro$haft!!!

Enough with the technicalities, I shall resume normal posting shortly!!

No Parking!!!!!

Yesterday I visited Wales.  I drove to one of my favourite towns, Llangollen, only to find that there were NO parking spaces at all!!!

There was a very good reason for this, there is a Steel, Steam and Stars Festival in progress.

The main feature of the festival is a collection of restored mainline steam locomotives, which has attracted a huge number of fans.

I managed to get a couple of photos as well as some photos of scaled down, passenger hauling steam Locos.

I drove to the end of the line at Carrog, and managed to get some video of a steam train in action.

Fully working miniature steam loco.

Steam Loco "Morayshire" at Carrog Station.

The trains run on around 7 miles of track from LLangollen to Carrog, where the loco is detached and re-connected at the rear of the train, for the return journey.

I then drove to an intermediate station where I took some video.

Unfortunately, the only way to get video on to here is via youtube, so that will have to wait.

This is a piccy of the station.

Waiting for a train.

I then drove to Betws-y-Coed where I had a belated pub lunch here...

Food was exceptional but pricey, beer was welcome!

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my day out.

*As usual, clicky biggy*

Today I am Celebrating St. George's Day........

.....by going to Wales!!

I haven't decided on a destination, just gonna drive around and take some photos.

I've put a turkey casserole in my slow cooker, so that should be about done by the time I get back..

Five more Months...

My pear tree has lots of blossom.

However, whether it produces fruit this year won't be known till late August/early September.
It is still a young tree and may not fruit for a couple of years.  I did get one pear last season but it was the size of my thumbnail!!

My damson tree also has some fine blossom, but again, it is a very young tree and may not produce fruit this year.

Strawberries are doing exceptionally well, and, provided I get to the fruit before the squirrels do, I should have a reasonable harvest.

Blackberries and redcurrants are showing promise.

I have to find a spot to plant my dwarf cherry. At the moment it is still in a pot, but is growing well.

Come Autumn I should have plenty of fresh, home grown fruit!

Thief Caught on Camera

Stealing food put out for birds...

....like these who prefer ground feeding.(The one on the left is a Reed Bunting, the more colourful one is a Chaffinch)

Lazy Days

I've spent the last couple of days doing what I am best at!! (Apart from normal housework)

Relaxing in my chair, drink at hand, listening to good music and reading.

Ive got my camera sat on it's tripod, focussed on the bird feeder, hoping to get some good shots but at the moment the birds just aren't cooperating!  Maybe they are camera shy!!!

A Walk....A Meal.....A Few drinks........

...followed by another walk!!!!

SWMBO invited me for a meal, I accepted and took along a couple of bottles. One was white Zin, the other was Chardonnay.

The meal was excellent, the Zin was superb, the Chardonnay was mediocre.

Little Princess was her usual self, typical 4yr old!!!!!

Coz I live alone, Little Princess offered to look after me! Awwwwww!
However, she was told , in no uncertain tones, that:

1) I was old enough to look after myself.
2) She was far too young to look after me!
3) There was nowhere in my house for her to sleep!

But I still love her.

She is 4 going on 30!!!!!

OK! Almost Done

I know it has taken a while, but the room is almost complete.  All that remains is to hang a few pictures.

Music, Books and Wine

It's time to reeeelaxxxx!!!!

Laundry is in the washer, I've nothing else to do for a while, so I'm sitting drinking a couple of glasses of 2003 Chianti, reading Wilbur Smith's Eagle in the Sky". and listening to Connie Francis, followed by Brenda Lee, Dusty Springfield and Buddy Holly......Perfection!!

Done and Dusted

Despite copious amounts of beer, wine and whisky, my living room is just about finished.  Only a few minor tweaks and I will be happy with it.

My new tumble dryer was delivered today, also a case of wine(15 bottles), so I think I should be OK for the weekend!!!

I'll post some photos of the finished room when i am sober enough to take them!!